Master Recording
The original, final recording of a song from which all copies are made.
Definition
A master recording is the original recorded version of a song from which all subsequent copies and versions are derived. Ownership of masters is one of the most valuable assets in music—whoever owns masters controls how the recording is used and distributed, and receives the largest share of royalties from streams, sales, and licensing.
Why It Matters
The master recording is the original, definitive version from which all copies and formats are derived. Owning the master means controlling the asset—determining how it's used, distributed, and monetized.
Master ownership is one of the most valuable assets in music. Artists who retain masters benefit from every stream, sync, and sale in perpetuity, while those who signed away masters watch others profit from their work.
Examples in Practice
Taylor Swift's decision to re-record her catalog demonstrates the value of master ownership, generating massive revenue while diminishing the value of her original masters owned by others.
An independent artist retains masters and licenses directly to a film, earning 10x what a label deal would have paid.
A legacy artist's estate generates millions annually from master recordings, decades after the original release.